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Open Your Hymnal

A New Show on the Living Bread Radio Network
Every Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

The repertoire of music used at liturgy is vast and ever-growing. Even so, each of us has our favorites. Maybe it’s a song that captures a particular image, or a song that brings back a special memory like a wedding or a funeral.

In this show, hosts Zack Stachowski & Matt Reichert examine the most beloved, enduring, and consequential songs sung at liturgy. They’ll break open each song through conversation with composers, text writers, and other artists. They’ll also look into the scriptural sources of the text, the song writing process, and more.

About the Hosts

Zack Stachowski

Zack is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Ijamsville, Maryland. Zack works extensively as a liturgical musician performing and recording with artists such as David Haas, Marty Haugen, Michael Joncas, Lori True, Paul Tate, Stephen Petrunak and many others. Zack is also a composer with GIA Publications and released his debut CD in July 2017. An avid teacher and workshop leader, Zack has presented at NPM and NCEA conferences, as well as at the Mid-Atlantic Congress and L.A. Religious Education Congress. Zack served on the faculty of Music Ministry Alive! from 2008 until 2017. Along with Matt Reichert and Jes Garceau, Zack co-directs the One Call Institute for young pastoral musicians and their advocates.

Matt Reichert

Matt teaches at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. As an educator, Matt has served as an administrator, board member, and classroom teacher at middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels. A frequent workshop leader, Matt has presented at parishes, diocese, and institutions across the country as well as at NPM and NCEA conferences, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the L.A. Religious Education Congress. Matt served on the faculty of Music Ministry Alive! from 2003 until 2017. Matt hosts NPM’s “Ministry Monday” podcast, and co-directs the One Call Institute with Zack Stachowski and Jes Garceau. Matt is a member of the music ministry team at his parish and the Saint John’s Abbey Schola.

Open Your Hymnal is sponsored by:

GIA PublicationsBased in Chicago, Illinois, GIA is the largest publisher of liturgical music in the world. GIA publishes liturgical music of all styles and for a broad range of ensembles. From hymnals and sheet music to compact discs and MP3 downloads, you can find resources for every need at GIA. Website

National Association of Pastoral MusiciansThe National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) is the professional organization for liturgical musicians. Providing conferences, resources, professional development and networking opportunities, NPM “fosters the art of musical liturgy.” Website

Oregon Catholic PressBased in Portland, Oregon, Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) publishes print music, hymnals, recordings, and more. Founded in 1922, OCP has grown and changed alongside the Church. Today, OCP is one of the largest publishers of Spanish-language and bi-lingual liturgical resources in the country. Website